"Get out while you still can, Richard."
"Out from what?"
"There's going to be an undead war. You don't want to be caught in the middle."
"I don't think Jean-Claude would let me walk away," he said. He wasn't smiling when he said it. I couldn't decide whether he was handsomer smiling or solemn.
"Humans don't do too well in the middle of the monsters, Richard. Get out if you can."
"You're human."
I shrugged. "Some people would argue that."
"Not me." He reached out to touch me. I stood my ground and didn't move away. His fingertips brushed the side of my face, warm and very alive.
"See you at three o'clock this afternoon, unless you're going to be too tired."
I shook my head, and his hand dropped away from my face. "Wouldn't miss it," I said.
He smiled again. His hair blew in a tangle across his face. I kept the front of my own hair cut short enough so that it stayed out of my eyes, most of the time. Layering was a wonderful thing.
I opened the passenger side door. "I'll see you this afternoon."
"I'll bring your costume with me."
"What am I going to be dressed as?"
"A Civil War bride," he said.
"Does that mean a hoop skirt?"
"Probably."
I frowned. "And what are you going to be?"
"A Confederate officer."
"You get to wear pants," I said.
"I don't think the dress would fit me."
I sighed. "It's not that I'm not grateful, Richard, but..."
"Hoop skirts aren't your style?"
"Not hardly."
"My offer was grubbies and all the mud we could crawl in. The party was your idea."
"I'd get out of it if I could."
"It might be worth all the trouble just to see you dressed up. I get the feeling it's a rarity."
Larry leaned across the seat, and said, "Can we get a move on? I need a cigarette and some sleep."
"I'll be right there." I turned back to Richard but suddenly didn't know what to say. "See you later."
He nodded. "Later."